Month June 2024

Shell Game by H. Max Hiller @HMaxHiller1 #policeprocedural #crime #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today of Shell Game by H. Max Hiller. I have been a fan of this author for quite a while;e and I adore his books. It is always such a pleasure when I get an email from him to ask if I would like to read the latest in the Cadillac Holland series. This latest book is fabulous.

My review of this book is unbiased and my own.

A change of venue from south of I-10 to Missouri has no effect on Detective ‘Cadillac’ Holland’s ability to ruffle feathers, break rules, and bring a disturbing surfeit of firepower into play to right a wrong…several, in fact.

A phone call out of the blue from an old military school classmate – and a disconcerting visit from that classmate’s sister – leads Detective Holland to inadvertently stumble upon yet another global antiquities theft. In his usual fashion, he manages to foist his unique approach upon every level of law enforcement from a small-town Missouri sheriff to the FBI and beyond, while skirting not only the law but the unexpected lurking danger of suffering the ultimate retribution from his Iraqi nemesis, the politically connected Habib family, while searching for an elusive shipping container of cultural artifacts stolen from the Iraqi National Museum.

Allies are hard to come by when no one is who – or where – they seem to be, and everyone is out for their personal gain at the detective’s expense.

MY REVIEW

It is always such a buzz to be able to catch up with Detective Holland, and while the previous books have had him working closely with others, this time he is out more on a limb. There are mentions of things from his past, but this book also adds a little more to that when he is contacted out of the blue by an old friend he has lost touch with.

Oh my goodness! The author has given us such a complex case for Holland to work through this time. It is now as I am trying to get my head around how to write this review that I realise just how complex the book was. Even though I was aware of the twists and double-crosses, I did not appreciate just how well the author kept everything flowing so well and didn’t confuse me at all.

Detective Cooter “Cadillac” Holland is such a likeable character, a bit of a maverick and one to walk a thin line when it comes to following the rules. But that is all part of his charm. He has a past that makes for interesting reading over the previous books, but this latest book steps away from his home so would work well as a stand-alone. I am biased though as I have read and loved all the books.

So Holland gets a call from an old colleague wanting his help with something. While Holland is reluctant at the time, when his friend’s sister arrives to visit him later he starts to get intrigued. Against the advice of his sister, and to be fair his better judgement, he decides to head out to see his friend Brian.

His arrival alerts so many different agencies, FBI, CIA as well as local police and some other rather unsavoury but very dangerous characters. There is more going on that Holland realises and his arrival is just the beginning of something so much larger, twisted, devious, dangerous and suspicious than he ever thought it would be.

The author knows the bones of his character so well. I did wonder how Holland would get on with a completely different city and area to his usual New Orleans, but the author has it down and provided such an intriguing story. As I mentioned it is complex, there is a lot of back and forth between other characters, and agencies and there is a certain amount of politics. Once again though Holland is trying to do the right thing. But that does not mean that he will be following the legal side of things. He doesn’t like being played and there is something that is off.

With several characters all adding their opinions and their versions of things, it becomes hard to work out who is being truthful. Each of the characters seems to have their own motive, this is increased when other parties add their presence into the mix.

With each book, the author picks something that his main character can focus on. Previous books have included real estate developments, fugitives, gang crime and murder. This book delves into the world of cultural antiques and it works well with the background that Holland has. Again this is something that you learn in previous books and it is mentioned in this one.

This is a game of time, of getting pieces in the right place and trying to outwit others. Several things are going on in the background that work alongside the main storyline. This is another fast-paced, action-packed crime, mystery thriller. While it is a police procedural, Holland is working on his own time so it gives it an additional edginess. I really enjoyed this book a huge amount, it is always great catching up with the Holland and I would definitely recommend this book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…

My relationship with New Orleans began with a job cooking in a cafe on Bourbon Street at the age of seventeen. My food service resume now includes many of New Orleans’ iconic music and dining destinations. I no longer reside in New Orleans full time but I keep to the expat creed of “Be a New Orleanian wherever you are.”
A devoted reader of detective and crime novels, I have worked as a chef on a boat travelling the inland waterways since Hurricane Katrina and began thinking up stories about a detective living in post-Katrina New Orleans, which I now write in my spare time.
My life is divided between working on the water and preserving a Victorian-era home in Hannibal, Missouri that I share with my wife and our rescue pets, which include a neurotic wolfhound/terrier mix and too many cats.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Redemption by Jack Jordan @JackJordanBooks @simonschusterUK @RandomTTours #thriller #crime #bookreview

yvonnembee 3 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of Redemption by Jack Jordan. This is a fabulous book to read and shows what will drive someone to do something that is so far away from the person they were to who they are now!

My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my copy of the book from Simon & Schuster.

The latest pulse-pounding thriller from the master of the moral dilemma and Sunday Times bestseller Jack Jordan.

Aaron Alexander has just been released from jail after serving eleven years for causing the death of Joshua Moore in a hit-and-run. Now a free man, all he wants to do is stay on the straight and narrow and leave his troubled past behind him.

But for Joshua’s mother Evelyn, eleven years in jail isn’t nearly enough. Consumed by grief and rage, she has been waiting for Aaron’s release, counting down the days until she can exact the revenge he deserves. And now that time has come.

However, as Evelyn and her husband Tobias embark on a road trip to track Aaron down, they soon find themselves caught on two different sides of a gripping game of cat-and-mouse. Because Tobias knows what Evelyn is planning, and he will do anything to save her from herself. Even if it means protecting the man who killed their son.

Locked in a collision course set in motion eleven years ago, Aaron, Evelyn and Tobias are about to find out whether the road they have chosen leads to retribution . . . or redemption.

MY REVIEW

Husband and wife, Tobias and Evelyn originally came from London. Due to a work offer for Tobias, they decided to move to the US with their son Joshua. It was an accident that completely changed the lives of the parents when Joshua was hit by a car. It was not an accident when he was left and the driver sped off. The driver was caught and he did his time. After 11 years in jail, Aaron is now out. this does not sit well with Evelyn.

Evelyn is a woman on a mission, nothing and no one will stop her. She wants revenge against the man who killed her son. Tobias is desperate to try and talk her out of it, he knows that if she does do what she is planning, she will never be the same ever again!

This is one of those stories where the author takes things to the extreme, but it is done so well. It takes the reader on a journey through the lives of a small group of people. It shows different sides to a story as you get to know more about the characters. You get the view of Evelyn and Tobias and what they have had to deal with over the years. From Aaron, you get a story of how he came to be in the car on the night and the reasons for him leaving Joshua. There are a few other characters, and while they do play small parts, and these are important, they are not really part of the larger picture.

The tension is there from the outset of this book. The further it goes on the more intense it gets, the author keeps the reader on tenterhooks continually as you read and wonder what will happen and more importantly to who.

This is very cleverly written and laid out, there are differing opinions and I think the author has given reasons for all the actions and events in the book. While you can sympathise with one person, you also begin to see a different side of another. What I thought in the initial stages about the main characters had changed by the end of the book. Not just once, but several times as more and more things are learnt about them.

This is a book that sits the reader alongside parents and also the person who killed their son. The revelations and accounts come thick and fast. The pacing is great as the chase is on. Nerves jangle and the sense of the ever-present danger is palpable as you read.

This is a book that is full of emotions, action, drama, danger and suspense. An addictive book to read and one that I adored. It is one I would definitely recommend.

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Downfall by Kerry Kaya @KerryKayaWriter @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks #NetGalley #crime #gangland #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for Downfall by Kerry Kaya. This sees the return of the Carter family in the first in a new series. Ideal for fans of gangland crime and thrillers.

My huge thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my copy from the publisher Boldwood Books.

The Carter Family are back and this time they mean trouble…

One wrong move…

As the current head of the family firm, Jimmy Carter has decided it’s time for him to step down and for one of his other brothers to lead the family. Except only one of his brothers wants the job – the youngest Carter brother – reckless hot-head Jonny.

Carla Carter has never forgiven her tramp of a mother for cheating on her beloved dad, Sonny and she’s determined to avenge him in the most perfect way: but stealing from the man who stole everything from her.

Could mean their downfall.

Her Uncle Jimmy would never consider Carla’s plan – it’s way too risky and dangerous. But Jonny needs to prove himself. He thinks this job could be the one to secure their future and prove his name.

With Carla and Jonny both blinded by their own pride, the rest of the Carters think they are making a deadly mistake. And instead of maintaining their family legacy, this one job could lead to their downfall…

MY REVIEW

I am a fan of the Carter and Tempest families from previous series the author has written, this one has a mix of the two as well as extended family and other families. A vast cast and a daring robbery amidst daily life for the gang members in this first book of a new series.

With such a large cast this took me a while to get into, introducing the various members of the families involved and how they link together did take the edge off this book at the beginning for me. But, knowing this author’s writing as I do, I knew it would soon pick up and the story “proper” as such would then get going. And boy did it ever!

When Carla Carter overhears something about diamonds from her stepdad she finally sees a chance to get back at him. Jonny Carter is the ideal person to approach about stealing these diamonds as he has just been given the family’s leadership, the businesses and the other illegal activities they are part of. Seeing this as a chance to make his mark he decides to take the risk. Diamonds have always been bad luck for the family and now he is in charge he thinks he has the chance to break the bad luck.

There is a rival gang and these are notorious, vicious and slightly warped in the way they treat people and think of others. To be fair though I think anyone that lives in this type of environment has to have something in them that is broken. With everyone being on edge there are frayed tempers, words exchanged and with this is bitterness and this makes it easy for people to do rash things or take undue risks.

The author has provided another amazing story, it is complex but reads well and there are many twists to keep you on your toes. A lot is going on in this book and for me it was exciting and dangerous. But there are also some very poignant moments when you read about loyalties and respect. Families are in danger and there are going to be risks, so trying to keep all the potential weak spots covered is going to be a challenge. This becomes evident towards the latter stages of the book.

This is a fabulous start to the series, it would have been handy to have a quick run-down of the families at the beginning. I do think this would have made it a little easier to get to grips with all the characters. But, as I mentioned earlier, when I got to know them it became easier. I did find that some of the similarities in names were another thing that caught me out.

If you are looking for a series that is full of excitement, the unexpected, danger and action-packed and unpredictable then this is a book you want to keep an eye out for. It is one I would happily recommend.

About the Author…

Kerry Kaya is the hugely popular author of Essex-based gritty gangland thrillers with strong family dynamics. She grew up on one of the largest council estates in the UK, where she sets her novels. She also works full-time in a busy maternity department for the NHS.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

I Died on Tuesday by Jane Corry @PenguinUKBooks #NetGalley #crime #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee 5 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of I Died on Tuesday by Jane Corry. I do like this author’s books and this one was a fabulously tense read.

My huge thanks to Penguin UK for my copy of the book via NetGalley.

THERE’S THE STORY EVERYONE BELIEVES . . .

The victim: Eighteen-year-old Janie leaving home for a new life.

The criminal: World-famous rock star, Robbie, who harbours a shocking secret.

The protector: Witness support officer, Vanessa, desperate to right the wrongs of her past.

They tried to bury that fateful day.
Now it’s back to haunt them.

. . . AND THEN THERE’S THE TRUTH.

MY REVIEW

I do enjoy reading this author’s books and this one is fabulous. There were so many twists and turns and things that I did not see coming, right through to the end of the book.

The short synopsis tells you the very basics –
Janie is an 18-year-old victim of a hit and run leaving her with life-changing injuries.
Several years later the arrest of Robbie, a famous singer is arrested.
Vanessa, a witness support worker has secrets and tries to do the right thing.

The story evolves and revolves around these three main characters, there are obviously others and these have a role to play. The clever thing is that you don’t know which role they are actually playing. This is something that gradually emerges as the story continues, some little hints and bits are laid like breadcrumbs.

Each of the characters is quite likeable, and this is strange considering one of them is a hit-and-run driver. Some leave you feeling just a tad suspicious about them or rather their motives. As you get to know the main characters and those they know you start to build a picture, not only of what preceded the hit and run, but also during and after. This gives a times conflicting emotions, because you are able to see one side of things but then this is balanced by something else.

The truth is hard to come by in this book, the author has cleverly twisted her plot lines and her characters are not totally reliable, some for simple reasons others for more serious ones. By the end though, you will find yourself with different ideas than you first thought when you started. Well, at least I did!

This is a fabulous story and one that I thoroughly enjoyed, it is tense and at times it challenges your initial thoughts. I think this would make a brilliant book for a book club especially if you had someone to ask leading questions. This is a thriller that has a very addictive edge to it, I adored it and I would definitely recommend it.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

The Garden of Memories by Amanda James @amandajames61 #contemporaryfiction #friendship #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of The Garden of Memories by Amanda James. This is a wonderful book about memories, family and friendship.

My huge thanks to Mandy for sending me a copy of this book, my review is my own.

With nothing but time on her hands, retired nurse Rose Lanyon finds herself drawn to the garden that had once been her husband’s pride and joy.

It may have started as a means of honouring her husband’s memory, but her little Cornish garden soon becomes so much more – a place where the lost and lonely can find solace, the forgotten can be remembered, and second chances take bloom. Because, as long as new life is growing, there will always be hope and new memories to make…

With nothing but time on her hands, retired nurse Rose Lanyon finds herself drawn to the garden that had once been her husband’s pride and joy.

MY REVIEW

This is such a wonderful book and one that resonated with me so much. I adore my garden, it is my safe space, a space where I can unwind and relax, sit and listen to the wind, the insects, birds, and bugs, and in the distance I am lucky to hear the sea. I live in the same county where this book is set, Cornwall UK.

When Rose retires from her job as a nurse she is at a bit of a loss. She has been a nurse for 40 years and suddenly she finds that she is one of those people who now looks back on her career. It takes some getting used to and she finds this in her garden. It was her husband’s domain really and the memories of him are in the flowers and shrubs. Spending most of her time working she has left the garden and now she has the time to start tackling it.

The author brings the sanctuary of a garden to the centre of this book, it is the focus and I adored it and I could understand what she was trying to get at. My garden has plants that remind me of my Dad and some have come through various friends and family, mostly Mum because she is addicted to gardening and can always find a spot for another plant, and she wonders where I get it from! I digress…

Rose is not the only one feeling out of sorts, the author brings a wonderful array of other people. They each have something that they are clinging to or feeling upset about. Finding a quiet space in the middle of a glorious garden is definitely something that can help heal the mind and soul, well it does in my world and thankfully for the author and her characters it does as well. Sorry, I do keep getting sidetracked!

The author weaves a wonderful story of how those who are at a loose end come together and find comfort and friendship, doubts are voiced and problems are soothed over a cuppa or a glass of wine. This is a story that warms the heart and the author has such a wonderful way of letting her characters come to life, she had me with tears and lumps in my throat as things started to get resolved.

If you are after a story that has some wonderful moments, a heartwarming feel and quite a few laughs and the occasional tears then this is one for you. It is a fabulous story and one that fans of contemporary fiction, gardening, romance, family and friendship stories. It is one I would definitely recommend.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Terrible Humans by Patrick Alley @paddy_alley @Octopus_Books @RandomTTours #crime #corruption #bookreview

yvonnembee 3 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of Terrible Humans by Patrick Alley. This is a book that shares how some people will do pretty much anything to make money, have power and abuse those with little or nothing.

My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my copy of the book from Octopus Books.

From the author of  Very Bad People , another thrilling exploration of the world’s worst warlords, grifters and kleptocrats – and the brilliant investigators taking them down

A small number of people, motivated by an insatiable greed for power and wealth, and backed by a pinstripe army of enablers (and sometimes real armies too), have driven the world to the brink of destruction. They are the super-villains of corruption and war, some with a power greater than nation state and the capacity to derail the world order. Propping up their opulent lifestyles is a mess of crime, violence and deception on a monumental scale. But there is a small but fearless groups of brilliant undercover sleuths closing in on them, one step at a time.

In  Terrible Humans,  Patrick Alley, co-founder of Global Witness and the author of  Very Bad People ,   introduces us to some of the world’s worst warlords, grifters and kleptocrats who can be found everywhere from presidential palaces to the board rooms of some of the world’s best known companies. Pitted against them, the book also follows the people unravelling the deals, tracking the money and going undercover at great risk. From the oligarch charged with ordering the killing of an investigative journalist to the mercenary army seizing the natural resources of an entire African country, this is a whirlwind tour of the dark underbelly of the world’s super powerful and wickedly wealthy, and the daring investigators dragging them into the light.

MY REVIEW

This was a book that I found to be interesting and also opened my eyes to various things that have happened around the world. The author is the co-founder of Global Witness, I think I have come across this organisation before but didn’t know much about them. Global Witness, according to their website focus is”Our goal is a more sustainable, just and equal planet. We want forests and biodiversity to thrive, fossil fuels to stay in the ground and corporations to prioritise the interests of people and the planet.”

For this book, the author has taken reports that many others have taken the lead on and is now sharing them. There are 8 reports that he shares with the reader and he tells of how the investigating reporting/ journalist brought the facts out and was able to show how those in power have abused the planet. The reports include a major oil company, fraud, pirate fishing, mercenaries, wildlife trafficking, human rights violations and sanctions, spyware and murder.

The author brings the reports and explains why happened and the resulting outcome. Some of the reports put the reporters in danger. They hold a belief that what they are doing is the right thing and highlight how some of the richest people in the world are willing to go to extreme lengths to keep control of their position and status, living a lifestyle that is often at the cost of others’ lives.

The book is well laid out with each report giving a glimpse at the diverse crimes that are happening in the world. Some of these reports I was aware of, well not so much aware of the report but had seen an article on the news.

This is a book that shares and shows how corruption, conspiracy, greed, power and status can all be twisted, used and abused. The effect is felt by those further down the social ladder who live in poverty and don’t have options, especially in a third-world country. Having organisations like Global Witness and having people willing to take risks and report on corruption is one way of bringing the wrong to the forefront.

This was an interesting book and one that I enjoyed reading, although enjoyed does not feel like the right word to use. It was interesting and it is one I would happily recommend.

About the Author…

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Salad Days by Allie Cresswell @Alliescribbler #fiction #historicalfiction #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today of Salad Days by Allie Cresswell. I was delighted when the author got in touch about me reading and reviewing her latest book. I have read several in the past and adored them when her email arrived I didn’t read the synopsis I just replied saying “Yes please”.

My huge thanks to Allie for getting in touch and providing me a copy of Salad Days for an unbiased review.

“My earliest memory is of you, Arthur. We were children, running across the garden at Granny’s house. The sun on your hair made it look like copper wire. Then you stopped, and I cannoned into you. We both went headlong into the rockery. It was 1964, the summer before I started school, so I was nearly five. You would have been just three.
It’s strange, isn’t it? That my first memory is of you. Or maybe it isn’t very strange at all.”

Prudence and Arthur take a nostalgic trip down memory lane to the sixties and seventies; turbulent, changeful years that contrasted with their idyllic childhood at ‘Salad Days,’ the market garden run by Prue’s extended family.

But was it idyllic? Tragedy makes uneasy waypoints in their journey of recollection, and Arthur’s overbearing father casts a dark pall. How did he inveigle himself into Prue’s close-knit family circle? What was his hold on them?
As Prue and Arthur retrace their youthful attempts to get to the facts, it’s clear that truth and memory aren’t always the same.

What of the mysteries that defy the clarity of hindsight? The uncanny auspices of eccentric Mrs Glenister, latest in the line of ‘peculiar’ Glenister wives—why did she only materialise at times of calamity? And most oddly of all, why, in all their reminiscing, does Arthur never speak a word?

Memory is a curious thing—unreliable and awkward. Shaping it into an account Prue and Arthur can both live with might take a lifetime. Or two.

MY REVIEW

I have read several books by this author and I have always enjoyed them. This latest one is another fabulous book and I adored it.

Salad Days is the name of a business that has evolved and changed while Prue has lived there. This story is told from the perspective of Prue, her likes, dislikes, loves, fears, and worries. The narration is how she sees life around her. She tells of the changes, some are good, some not so, but during this there is another person who is important to her. Arthur is a couple of years younger and he is a Glenister, while Prue is a Day.

The story begins with Prue sharing her resentment of Arthur, he is not from her family but he is always around with his parents. In her young mind, he is an outsider and she is the one who belongs in the lives of her parents, grandparents, aunts and cousins, not him and his parents. As she grows and starts to understand life and her role, she becomes more tolerant of Arthur.

The author uses Prue as the teller of the tale and the tale is told to Arthur, it is a recounting of their times together and apart, of the seasons, the changes and the comings and goings of things in their families.

The author mentions at the end of the book various things that she has used for inspiration. I have to say I think this really shows. The way she describes the settings, the surroundings and some of the experiences of Prue make for such a magical and at times almost ethereal feel as Prue reveals her deepest thoughts, wishes and dreams.

While this is a quiet story that Prue narrates that does not mean there is no drama. There is plenty of that, after all, what family does not have drama of some sort? Children growing up have secrets, they imagine things and then as adults opinions are formed, sometimes these are adamantly adhered to, but at other times they are open to change.

Having a single narrator for this story makes for a one-sided view of the world and this is something that I adored, but it also means that you only get one version of how things are seen. The author does an amazing job of using Prue’s eyes to see the world and tell her version of events. Over the course of several decades, Prue grows and so does the family, the business and life in general gets more complicated as things do as you become an adult.

I have to say I adopted Prue, she is not a simple character by any means, she is complex, opinionated and at times stubborn. There is something very special about her and while she does get things wrong I can’t help but adore her. This is a story that will probably bring readers to different opinions and this is something that the author wants and encourages. This makes the book ideal for a book club read as several opinions can be voiced and discussed.

This is a fabulous book and one that would appeal to those who like historical fiction, a single narrator and shows the life of a character from girl to woman. I would definitely recommend this book.

About the Author…

I have been writing stories since I could hold a pencil and by the time I was in Junior School I was writing copiously and sometimes almost legibly.

It was at this time that I had the difference between fiction and lies forcefully impressed upon me, after penning a long and entirely spurious account of my grandfather’s death and funeral…..

The teacher had permitted it as being good therapy for bereavement whereas in fact it was only a good excuse to get out of learning my multiplication tables (something I have never achieved).

Clearly I was forgiven. For for my next birthday I asked for a stack of writing paper and my parents obliged, it being more easily obtained and wrapped than a pony.

A BA in English and Drama at Birmingham University was followed by an MA in English at Queen Mary College but marriage and motherhood put my writing career on hold for some years until 1992 when I began work on Game Show.

In the meantime I worked as a production manager for an educational publishing company, an educational resources copywriter, a bookkeeper for a small printing firm, and was the landlady of a country pub in Yorkshire, a small guest house in Cheshire and the proprietor of a group of boutique holiday cottages in Cumbria.

I am currently teaching literature in the community alongside full time writing.

I have two grown-up children, Tom and Abby, and am married to Tim.



I live in Cheshire. 

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Estella’s Revenge by Barbara Havelocke @BCopperthwait @HeraBooks #NetGalley #historicalfiction #fiction #EstellasRevenge #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of Estella’s Revenge by Barbara Havelocke. This author writes crime as Barbara Copperthwaite, and those I have read are excellent so it was interesting to see her write in a totally different genre. And she does it so well. This is a fabulous book.

I did have my request to read this via Netgalley approved by Hera Books, I also bought my own copy.

You know Miss Havisham.

The world’s most famous jilted bride.

This is her daughter’s story.

Raised in the darkness of Satis House where the clocks never tick, the beautiful Estella is bred to hate men and to keep her heart cold as the grave.

She knows she doesn’t feel things quite like other people do but is this just the result of her strange upbringing?

As she watches the brutal treatment of women around her, hatred hardens into a core of vengeance and when she finds herself married to the abusive Drummle, she is forced to make a deadly

Should she embrace the darkness within her and exact her revenge?

MY REVIEW

I am aware of Miss Havisham, a character from one of Dicken’s books – Great Expectations. She was jilted and lived while still wearing her wedding dress. She adopted a young girl called Estella. Barbara Havelocke has taken Estella and created a fabulous story of her life with Miss Haversham and imagines the things she will have experienced and created this wonderful historical fiction story.

The author states at the end of her book that she does not try to emulate Dickens in his writing and for me, this makes this book very accessible to anyone who likes to read historical fiction, fiction or family and lifestyle books. I adored this book from the outset and remained glued to it until the end. What a happy surprise to find that this is to be a series!

The author conveys a bleak life for Estella living in Satis House with her adopted mother. The rooms are dark, curtains remain drawn, and the place feels unloved and forlorn. It is in some ways a mirror of Miss Havisham herself, she lives with regret and this is passed on to Estella. Estella learns that men cannot be trusted, they should be crushed and love is something that is a whim and not felt.

The author takes the way society looks, treats and expects women to behave during the period this book is set. they are a possession, they do not need to worry about politics, money or opinions, that is the role of the men. Instead, they are to look good, speak when spoken to and do as they are told. I am so glad times have changed!

The author creates such a wonderful character in Estella, yes she is flawed but this is not her doing it is what she has learned from Miss Havisham. Miss Havisham has learnt this from how she was treated when she was jilted. Estella comes across in different ways and it is as I write this review now that I realise just how complex a character she actually is. She can be cruel, loyal, opinionated, rash, and headstrong but she is also so naive.

The way the author has used Estella and the way she has been brought up to such good effect. It gives a platform for the author to have what feels like a free rein as such because you are not quite sure what to expect in the future for Estella. The route that is taken is dark, twisted and dangerous. It has the feel of something akin to a gothic mystery with so much intrigue.

There is so much I want to say about this book, but when I look at the synopsis there is very little given away. So I am not going to leave spoilers. It is magnificently researched and the story flows so well.

This is a fabulous book and one that I adored. It is a historical fiction using well-known literary characters, their story is fabulous, emotional and just wonderful. It is one I would definitely recommend.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Rogue Hero by Rob Sinclair @RSinclairAuthor @rararesources @boldwoodbooks #crime #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today of Rogue Hero by Rob Sinclair. this is a fabulous, fast-paced and addictive crime thriller.

My huge thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my copy from the publisher Boldwood Books.

When a mystery bystander stops an assassination attempt on a prominent politician, it sparks a captivating national search.

Curtis Delaney watches the news footage and immediately recognises the unidentified hero. He hasn’t seen his brother Finn in six years. He doesn’t know where he’s been or what he’s been doing, but there’s one thing he does know: Finn is no hero.

Curtis is determined to find his brother, but equally, Curtis is no detective. A husband and lawyer (and not the ‘good’ kind), with a mortgage and responsibilities, Curtis isn’t cut out for delving into whatever seedy business Finn has gotten involved with. But when armed men turn up on his doorstep, claiming to be FBI, he quickly realises he’s been left with no choice.

The hunt for the truth will take them from the Capitol in Washington to the sun-kissed beaches of Mexico to the cold streets of London, uncovering secrets of fraud, blackmail, and murder. Can the brothers reunite before the wrong people discover the true hero?

MY REVIEW

Brothers Curtis and Finn are not exactly close. They have not spoken for several years. They are very different, one is reckless while the other is hard-working and focused. So when Curtis recognises his brother in a news story he is shocked to find he is being described as a hero. This is something he would never think of his brother as. So why did Finn stop an assassination attempt or is something else going on?

This is a brilliant book and it is a mix of mystery, murder, extortion, corruption and suspense, but at its heart is greed and power. When Curtis tries to find his brother her finds himself wandering into a world that he has no experience of. He is trying to be the good guy, follow the rules and leads, but this gets him nowhere. Finn, is ruthless, he is good at what he does but has he overstepped and underestimated?

This is a story that flits between the two brothers, Finn’s story is in the past and the author gradually works through his timeline. Curtis’s is the present and it follows his journey. It is only as Curtis starts digging he discovers what his brother is doing, is capable of and how much of an impact it will have on his own life.

The author has set a great pace for the book and his characters travel to various countries, one to set things up and the other to try to follow the clues. There is the constant hint of some ulterior motive but quite what this is and how it fits doesn’t become apparent until a lot further in the book. In some ways, Curtis has to travel and experience things before he can try to get to his brother finally.

There are various characters, but not many so that you get jumbled, and it is ideal for this style of book, it is one where secrets and blackmail go hand-in-hand. The story had me wondering and at times I wasn’t sure who was the “good guy”, the author plants seeds of doubt, suspense and intrigue so kept me on my toes.

This is a fabulous book and one that is for those who like a slightly more complex cat-and-mouse type of crime mystery and thriller. It is dark and dangerous and I adored it. It is one I would definitely recommend.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

A Bonsai Tree Called Geoff by John Donoghue @johndonoghue64 @RandomTTours #police #nonfiction #truecrime #humour #bookreview

yvonnembee 7 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for A Bonsai Tree Called Geoff: Police Stories I Probably Shouldn’t Share by John Donoghue. When I saw this in my email I had to investigate this book for the Blog Tour, and I am so glad I did as this is a true crime book that is definitely not blood, guts, guns and violence. Instead, it is a quirky account of what a police officer has had to deal with.

My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my copy of the book.

The Ultimate Writer of Wrongs Continues to Enthral with More Hilarious Tales from the Thin Blue Line

Having served for twenty years in the front line of policing, it’s fair to say John Donoghue has seen it all.

In his latest book chronicling his time in the force, A Bonsai Tree Called Geoff – Police Stories I Probably Shouldn’t Share, this engaging and talented author continues to do what he does best – regale readers with spectacularly entertaining, wildly funny, and out and out bizarre anecdotes from his days in blue.

Is he the best cop on the streets?… No.
 
But does he go to work with a positive attitude and put 100% into every incident he attends?… Also No.
 
What he does is write about the funny, unusual, and bizarre jobs he goes to.
 
From arresting a bride at her own wedding, an Aztec-style sacrifice, subversion in the ranks, a naked dog thief, an accidental kidnapping, and disappointing a nun… these are true tales from the front line of policing, where fact is often stranger than fiction!
 
These are the tales he probably shouldn’t share.

MY REVIEW

This is the first time I have encountered this author, who shares various anecdotes and tales from his time in the Police Force.

The book is full of quirky tales, humorous mishaps and many odd and weird people along the way. He shares these stories with a good sense of humour even if he is part of the joke. This book is full of tales that you would struggle to make up but for some reason, people have actually done some of the most bizarre acts and the author and his colleagues have been called out to assist, apprehend, give chase to, caution or advice.

This is laid out so well and each of the tales has its own chapter, and there are 22 chapters. The titles are random, as is the name of the book, which consequently is one of the stories. With headings such as “Morning in the Afternoon”, “Pigman, Pinky and the Dark Horse” or “The Man with Two First Names” there is much interest and intrigue.

I admit there are times when I had to snigger at some of the antics and chaos that this author has come across in his time on the Force. The language is what you would generally hear in conversations now, so there is some swearing, but to be fair many of us swear or at least curse so it is to be expected.

I really enjoyed this book and it was a good one to pick and read a couple of chapters over several days. If you are looking for some random and bizarre events that a police officer may come across in their time, then this is one for you. An enjoyable read and one I would happily recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…

Having served Queen, King & Country for over 40 years in the military and Police, John Donoghue has also been awarded the Chief Constable’s Commendation for Bravery after saving a family of seven (and their dog and cat) from a house fire one Christmas Eve… and routinely been castigated for telling it like it is.

His previous police memoirs include:
Police, Crime & 999
Police, Lies & Alibis
Police, Arrests & Suspects

He has also previously written a humorous book about his military service and travels with his dog around the funny places in Great Britain – described as “Bill Bryson on Magic Mushrooms” when it first came out, it has now been updated and republished as ‘Tails of the Unexpected.’
 
He says: “I am also a public speaker, conducting tongue in cheek presentations about the ‘Ten Life Lessons I’ve learnt in the Police’, and conduct medieval tours in my spare time.”
 
He also enjoys an X (Twitter) following of over 65k – @johndonoghue64

Website: http://www.policecrime999.com 
 

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx